Rail-fastening device



W.' C. LElSER RAIL FASTENING DEVICE Filed June 23, 1926 A ril 12,1927.

5 m fi u n1 Ze/Jlliam 615m 5) '6 w-A 1? if,

4 TTORNEK Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAIL-FASTENING DEVICE.

Application filed June 23,

In the construction and maintenance of railway tracks, whether of steam or electric railways, the furnishing of cross ties in the first instance and the replacement thereof due to the wear and tear of use are items of very great expense. One cause of wear as a result of which the ties become useless at the expiration of varying periods of use is the contact of the rails directly with the ties. Such contact, due to the frequent passage of railway trains over the rails, causes the latter to move relatively to the ties and gradually to cut into the same thereby in relatively short periods of time rendering the same useless and necessitating' replacement. Any means which may be employed to decrease the wear and tear of the rails upon the ties and to lengthen the life of the latterobviously is of great importance from an economic standpoint.

The general object of my invention is to provide an improved and novel construction of fastening device for fastening rails to ties having means whereby the ties are protected against the wearing action of the rails thereon.

It also is an object of the invention t provide means whereby the rails are more securely fastened to the ties than heretofore has been ractical.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of novel construction including means whereby a rail may be readily released for the purpose of replacement or for any other purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the longitudinal movements of the rails of a railway track transversely of the ties upon which they are supported are prevented from exercising a wearing action upon the said ties.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the detailed description thereof which follows or will be apparent therefrom. However, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction than that shown and that changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the said invention.

In the drawing:

Fig 1 is a view in side elevation of a device embodying the invention, aportion thereof being broken away to show more 192s. Serial No. 117,913.

clearly a certain mechanical part thereof, and the said View also showing a section of rail in side elevation to which the device embodying the invention is applied, and also showing a cross tie in end elevation; and

Fig. 2 is a View showing a portion of the device in cross section and another portion thereof in end elevation, and also showing a portion of a tie in side elevation and a rail in cross section.

Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that I have shown a short section of a rail 1 and a single cross tie 2 for supporting the same. It will be understood, of course, that as usual the ties are arranged in parallel relation to each other and at the propor distances apart to form adequate support for the rails which will be of the usual length.

For the purpose of securing the rails to the ties I have provided a fastening means adapted to be associated with each tie comprising side members 3 of bar shape having at the inner and outer edges of its lower side wedge-shaped flanges 4c and 5. Each of the said bars is provided with a flangelike portion 6 which projects inwardly from the upper portion of its inner side. These portions are adapted to engage and clamp against the opposite outer edge portionsof the base 7 of the rail 1. The underneath sides of these flange-like portions 6 are inclined upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings so as to adapt them to the downwardly inclined or tapering upper surfaces of the opposite sides of the base 7 of the rails.

In the construction as shown the wedgeshaped flanges 4 and 5 are continuous and extend from end to end of the bars 3. The clamping bars 3 are secured to the ties, and the flange-like portions 6 are clamped against the outer edge portions of the base 7 by means of U-shaped fastening devices 10 the opposite legs of which are located upon opposite sides of the ties, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and project upwardly through openings 11 near the opposite ends of the clamping bars 3. The bottom portions 12 of the U-shaped fastening devices 10' are in engagement with the under side of a protecting plate 13 located upon the bottom of the tie. The opposite ends of this plate are bent downwardly as shown at 14. The portions 12 are located preferably in contact with the inner sides of these bent down portions 14;, as is clearly shown in Fig. 9. of: the drawing. The presence of a plate 13 in connection with each Fastening means prevents the portion 12 fron'i cutting into the tie 1. when the nuts in which ei'igage the screw threadrd upper ends of the opposite sides oi. the tat-stoning; devices are tightened to force the clamps 3 into clamping: relation upon the base 7 of the rail. It will be apparent that but for the presence of the plate 13 the connecting base portions 12 of the fastening means 10 would: cut into the tie as a result of the tightening of the nuts 15 as above described. Interposed between the nuts 15 and the top surfaces of the elanuaing bars 3 are washers 16. Any suitable means may be provided for preventing the nuts 15 from becoming accidentally loosened during use. Upon the tightening of the nuts the flanges -l and 5 will be caused to sink or out into the top surface of a tie, as is clearly indicated in the drawing.

For the purpose of preventing the rails troin wearing and cutting into the tops of the ties I have provided wear plates :20 which are located between the rails and the ties. These plates take up the wear of the rails and prevent wear oi? the tics upon which the rails are supported. The opposite ends of these plates are turned down. as indicated at 21, so that they are prevented from creeping out from underneath the rails. The opposite sides of these plates are seated against thelower portions oi": the inner side of the clampine' bars 3. The relation of these bars to the opposite sides of the said plates is clearly shown in Fig.1. 2 of the drawing.

The presence of the l'lOWIiWtilTllY turned portions l t of the plate 13 prevents spreadine: or outward movement of the lower ends of the fastening: devices 10.

One advantaee of devices embodying; my iiwention resides in the fact of their easy application and removal. In the use of the said devices the rails are placed in the desired position upon the cross ties with the wear plates 20 interposed. The plates 13 are placed in proper position underneath the ties and the fastening devices engaged therewith as shown in the drawing. The clamping bars 3 are then placed in position with the upper ends of the opposite sides of the fastening levices extending through the openings 11 at the opposite ends thereof. The clan'ipine bars having been placed in proper position with respect to the base 7 the nuts 15a1e then screwed down upon the upper ends of; the opposite sides of the fastening devices 10 to causev the bars 8 to clamp against the outer edge portions of the base 7 and to cause the flanges 4 and 5 to ut into or enter the tie on ties as shown.

The said clanu'iinebars 3 having been thus eun izg ed with the ties it is apparent that spreading of the iasteuiugi; means to release the rails is impossible.

Due to the fact that the flange-like portiijin ll of the clauuiiug bars merely contact with the base 7 it is apparent that. the rails are free to more longritudinaliy lo the exten that the rails oi: railway tracks do more, without in any way interfering with the fastening means. Such movements. however do not cause any wear to the ties because the latter are protected by the wear plates .20 which are interposed between the ties and the rails and upon which the latter are seated.

In case it should be desired to release rail for the purpose of replacing); the same 3" another rail or for any other purpose such release may be effected readily by loosening; the nuts 15 and thereafter swinging the upper ends of: the tlastoning means 10 and the clainpii bars 3 thereon away from each other. This having-,5 been done one rail may be removed and another one subctituted therei'ior, after which the fastening); or holdingmeans 10 and the elam 'iing bars 3 may be returned to positions eorrespondiuir to those shown in the drawingir, whereupon the nuts i5 may be adjusted to tighten and hold the clamping bars against the flanges of the substituted rail.

One advantage of my invention is that it provides a relatively wide holding means for one aging: the rails so that they are more seeurel i fastened and held in place upon the ties than heretofore h: been the case when the usual fastening means has been: employed.

Having): thus described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat out is:

l. A fastening; device tor fastening rails to cross ties. comprising clamping bars havingflange-like portions extending from the upper portions oi the inner sides thereof, which portions are of a, lenuiih substantially equal to that oi? the clamping bars and are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the base of the rail. and the said clamping: bars also having longitudinally extending flangelike portions which project from the bases of the bars, which projections are adapted to engage a tie. the said bars having openings therethrouogh adjacent their opposite ends and Ushaped members embracing a tie, the upper ends oi. the opposite sides of said U-shaped members extending through said openings. and means for engaging the said upper ends to clamp the said clamping bars against a tie and ziigainst the opposite sides of the base portion of a rail.

2. A rail fastening device for fastening rails to cross ties, comprising clamping bars of a length greater thanthe width of the said ties, each of the said bars having a 1ongitudinally extending flange-like extension from the upper portion of the inner side thereof, also having flange-like projections which project from the base thereof which are adapted to engage a tie, said fiangedike projections extending the full length of the said clamping bar and also having holes therethrough near their opposite ends, U- shaped fastening means which encircle a tie, plates interposed between the bottom of said tie and the adjacent portions of the said fastening means, and the upper ends of the opposite sides of the said U-shaped fastening means extending through the holes in the said clamping bars, and means for engaging the upper ends of the opposite sides of the said U-shaped fastening means which are adapted to be tightened against the said clamping bars to cause clamping action thereof against the tie and against the opposite side portions of the base of the rail.

3. A rail fastening device for fastening rails to cross ties, comprising clamping bars each having flanges upon the bottom side thereof for engaging a tie, said flanges extending length-wise of said bar, and the said clamping bars each being also provided with a flange-like extension which projects from the upper portion of its inner side, and also having openings therethrough near its opposite ends and U-shaped fastening means extending around a tie and having the upper portions of the opposite sides thereof extended through the openings through the said clamping bars, the said upper portions being screw threaded, nuts in engagement with the said screw threaded upper portions for clamping the said clamping bars against a tie and against the opposite edge portion of the base of a rail.

4. A rail fastening device, comprising clamping bars located upon the opposite sides of the base of a rail and adapted to clamp against the opposite edge portions of said base, said clamping bars each having longitudinally extending fiangedike projec tions on the bottom side thereof adapted to engage a tie, a plate located underneath a tie in opposed relation to the said clamping bars, the opposite ends of which plate are bent downwardly, U-shaped fastening means having the bases thereof in engagement with the said plate adjacent its opposite ends and having their opposite sides located upon opposite sides of a tie and extending upwardly through openings in the said clamping bars, means for engaging the upper ends of the opposite sides of the said U-shaped fastening means for clamping against the said clamping bars and to cause the latter to clamp against'the tie and against the opposite edge portions of the base of a rail supported upon said tie.

5. In a rail fastening deviee,'the combination of clamping bars located upon the opposite sides of the base of a rail, said clamping bars being mounted upon a cross tie and each having a portion in engagement with one edge portion of the said base, one bar being located on one side of each rail and the other on the opposite side thereof and each bar having flange-like projections on its base for engaging said cross-tie, a wear plate located between the said clamping bars and between a tie and the said rail, the latter resting upon the said wear plate, a guard plate located underneath the said tie in opposed relation to the said wear plate, U-shaped fastening members extending around the said tie and having their base portions in engagement with the opposite end portions of the said guard plate, and the upper ends of the said U-shaped fastening means extending through openings near the opposite ends of the said clamping bars, and means in engagement with the upper ends of the opposite sides of the said U-shaped fastening means for clamping and holding the said clamping bars against the opposite edge portions of the base of a rail.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 22nd day of June, A. D., 1926.

WILLIAM CURTIS LEISER. 

